Snake River Canyon Scenic Byway

"Travel the Past - Explore the Future"

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The Snake River Canyon Scenic Byway is celebrating 20 years of recognizing the beauty of the Snake River Canyon and
the value of agriculture in our valley. We invite you to take the byway and view a scenic treasure you will never forget!
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The Snake River Canyon Scenic Byway is a rich tapestry of places, people, and scenic lands that encompasses all that is truly Idaho. Dating back nearly 4.5 million years, the rich agricultural land found today along the byway was born of fire when volcanoes dominated the land. Nearly 15,000 years ago water reshaped the land during the Bonneville Flood, one of the largest floods in geologic history. Over the millenniums, nature continued to define the land, creating a unique ecosystem of wildlife and plants that are found only in southwestern Idaho.

The Snake River Canyon Scenic Byway spans more than fifty miles. To drive the byway is to share the same visual experience the early pioneers observed when they arrived to create a new life in the sagebrush-covered valley. Today’s rich agricultural lands and the vibrant cities found along the byway are the legacy passed down to us by those early Idaho pioneers, a living legacy for all of us to discover, enjoy, and to offer to our children as we drive a truly “southwestern” Idaho roadway.

Snake River Canyon Scenic Byway Location
South to north, the byway route begins on Idaho 45 at Walters Ferry, to Map Rock Road, to Chicken Dinner Road, to Lowell Road, to Plum Road, to Homedale Road, to Allendale Road, to Ustick Road, to Fargo Road, to Dixie Road, to Wamstad Road, to Apple Valley Road, to the intersection with U.S. 20/26, to Nyssa, Oregon bridge.

Length
Approximately 53 miles. Allow 1.5 hours for travel. Allow more time to experience the byway and super-side-trips.

Scenic Roadway
Idaho 45, a 2-lane road, is kept snow clear year-around. All other roadways are local roads or collectors that are paved 2-lane roads, where ice patches can occur during winter weather. The super-side-trips and overlooks onto the Canyon may not be passable in winter weather.

When to see the Byway
The area is beautiful throughout the year. Vineyards and wine tasting venues are open seasonally. Orchards are best seen in the spring or the fall just before harvest. The wildlife reserve and birding islands have migratory flyways.

Special Attractions
Wineries, vineyards, and orchards; Fort Boise; Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge; Map Rock Petroglyph; agricultural and scenic vistas along the entire route.

Camping on the Byway
Camping is permitted in designated areas along the Snake River, with numerous “sportsman’s accesses” to the river.

Services
Full services are available in the major cities, including Nampa and Caldwell. Partial services in Melba, Marsing, Homedale, Wilder, Greenleaf, Notus, and Parma.